Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

'It is soul-destroying to see my daughter crying every day with the pain in her back'

Karen and Sarah-Ann Cline-Mitchell met with the Minister for Health yesterday to find out when she will get a date for her operation.

A MOTHER AND her 12-year-old daughter who suffers with scoliosis shed tears in the minister for health’s office yesterday as they asked when she would be able to have her life-changing operation.

Karen Cline-Mitchell told TheJournal.ie that her daughter is living in limbo and extreme pain as she waits on a date.

Her daughter, Sarah-Ann Cline-Mitchell has a 60 degree curve in her spine and has been on a waiting list for treatment for over nine months.

Yesterday, Karen and Sarah-Ann were invited to meet with the minister to discuss her case, but they said they left “with no new answers” or clarity as to when she will get treatment.

“She sat in front of the minister and told him that she hates when people call her names and asked when she would get her operation, but we left there knowing nothing new. It’s just so frustrating,” said Karen.

download (20) Sarah-Ann Cline-Mitchell Karen Cline-Mitchell Karen Cline-Mitchell

Severe curvature 

When Karen first spotted a curve in her daughter’s back, she brought Sarah-Ann to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin (OLCHC), where she was diagnosed with thoracic scoliosis – meaning the upper part of her spine is curved.

Scoliosis affects about 1% of children and adolescents in Ireland. The condition can also affect adults. It causes an abnormal curve of the spine or backbone.

Scoliosis Ireland notes the curve can bend to the left or to the right and can be in the lower part of the spine (a lumbar curve), the upper part of the spine (a thoracic curve), or go from the upper to lower part of the spine (a thoracolumbar curve). In some cases there is a double curve – like an S shape.

After waiting months for an appointment with a specialist through the public system, Karen paid to get an appointment with a consultant privately. At this stage, Sarah-Ann’s curve had progressed to 60 degrees.

Sarah-Ann has since been referred from Crumlin Hospital to Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital in Finglas for treatment – but Karen said that “yet again, there is miscommunication”.

Waiting on a date

When Sarah-Ann, and some 40 other patients, were moved from the public waiting list to Cappagh Hospital, Karen thought they would be given a date for their operation.

However, since then, the concerned mother said there is utter confusion and now differing opinions between doctors about her daughter’s treatment.

“We’d been told it could be fixed and that the operation could happen soon, only for us to be told the opposite.”

Karen claims she was told Sarah-Ann’s rib cage may be unfixable and that she could be partially deformed forever.

Her daughter was understandably very upset about the news. However, then another doctor said it may be fixable.

After waiting for months for treatment, Karen said they have now been told Sarah-Ann may have to wait a further nine months.

download (19) Sarah-Ann Cline-Mitchell Karen Cine-Mitchell Karen Cine-Mitchell

A further nine months 

“There is no way I want to wait another nine months for treatment. She could be deformed at that rate,” she said.

“I don’t want my daughter to grow up with a deformity,” she said, adding that she sought a commitment from the Simon Harris yesterday that if her daughter must wait for treatment, an appropriate monitoring system should be put in place to ensure that Sarah-Ann’s spine does not deteriorate.

It is not just Sarah-Ann’s spine Karen is worried about. She is also worried about the level of pain medication her young daughter is taking and what damage it could be doing to her liver.

As Sarah-Ann’s condition worsens it will begin to strain on her lungs and heart, said Karen, who added she is also concerned about her daughter’s mental health.

During yesterday’s meeting, Sarah-Ann and Karen pressed the minister to initiate an early screening programme for scoliosis.

“I tried to make the case that early detection is key,” said  Karen.

Such a programme would allow early diagnosis which would then mean that treatment could be less invasive and would save years of pain and suffering for many children.It really is soul-destroying to see my daughter crying every day with the pain in her back. We just want this to be sorted out once and for all.

Solidarity-PBP TD Richard Boyd Barrett, who attended the meeting with the minister yesterday said, the idea that Sarah-Ann may have to wait a further nine months for treatment has her mother “in bits”.

He said the minister committed to look into what is causing the delay with Sarah-Ann’s treatment, as well as determine what hospital and consultant is in charge of her care.

A spokesperson for the minister said a number of assurances were given by the minister in yesterday’s meeting, describing it as positive.

Last month, Harris committed to drawing up a new HSE action plan on scoliosis. While the plan is yet to be published, Harris also said a review into whether it is feasible to re-introduce the scoliosis screening programme is underway in the Department of Health.

With reporting by Orla Ryan 

Joanne O’Riordan: ‘I will not allow this government treat me like a second class citizen’>

Finally: Water committee close to a deal on the future of charges>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
16 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keith Fay
    Favourite Keith Fay
    Report
    Mar 30th 2017, 6:28 PM

    After all the struggle Karen had to get this meeting, minister harris does the equivalent of staring blanky into space. Such a nightmare. Keep fighting Karen!!!

    115
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keith Fay
    Favourite Keith Fay
    Report
    Mar 30th 2017, 6:29 PM

    *blankly

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Cassidy
    Favourite John Cassidy
    Report
    Mar 30th 2017, 6:15 PM

    The poor girl. My heart goes out to her. Shame on the govt. They couldn’t organise a p!ss up in a brewery.

    121
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daniel Wilson
    Favourite Daniel Wilson
    Report
    Mar 30th 2017, 6:26 PM

    @John Cassidy: I’m sure they could scrounge something together in the dail bar though

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciaran105
    Favourite Ciaran105
    Report
    Mar 30th 2017, 6:53 PM

    We might need the walking boot soon !
    Surely earlier treatment will restore some quality of life and be a cost efficient process in the long term ! given the radical intervention that’s needed even at this stage in this degenerative condition ,,. C’mon Minister earn your salary.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard Henry
    Favourite Gerard Henry
    Report
    Mar 30th 2017, 7:09 PM

    The minister for health doesn’t care

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gus Sheridan
    Favourite Gus Sheridan
    Report
    Mar 31st 2017, 4:49 PM

    @Gerard Henry: this minister for health is another chinless wonder, just a talking head with no experience of the actual job in question.
    Has no interest in actual patients, just looking to climbing the ladder. He is a disgrace, this child needs this now!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot Cronin
    Favourite Dermot Cronin
    Report
    Mar 30th 2017, 6:48 PM

    Don’t worry people…The Minister is looking into it

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kerry Blake
    Favourite Kerry Blake
    Report
    Mar 30th 2017, 8:14 PM

    Harris apparently a possible future leader of this country. What a waste of space doesn’t even care for the children of this country…..

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SJD
    Favourite SJD
    Report
    Mar 30th 2017, 10:20 PM

    My heart goes out to Sarah-Ann. No child should have to suffer like this. Hats off to her Mum Karen for fighting the good fight. Shame on our minister for health. Too often we have heard about some of the most vulnerable people in our society getting left behind. Yet ministers that in all honesty do very little get the big money. It is time we restructured pay for politician’s and HSE managers and divert the funds to where they are needed.

    Sarah-Ann my thoughts are with you and I can only hope you get the operation that you need soon and go on to live a well, healthy and happy life. Karen you are doing your daughter proud by fighting for her like you are and it is people like you that make me proud to be Irish.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kev Creed
    Favourite Kev Creed
    Report
    Mar 30th 2017, 8:44 PM

    Poor thing. Can only imagine the torturé…sure if this was a Minister’s son or daughter essily dotted

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute @mdmak33
    Favourite @mdmak33
    Report
    Mar 30th 2017, 8:24 PM

    It’s ridiculous what people have to go through to get medical assistance.and fg are telling people to come home,to what,a bloody third world country.shame on you Mr Harris.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute 5 Times
    Favourite 5 Times
    Report
    Mar 30th 2017, 8:53 PM

    Shame on you government.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute robert lester
    Favourite robert lester
    Report
    Mar 30th 2017, 8:20 PM

    Fat pay rises for fat politicians! While those who need the money get to suffer.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Dineen
    Favourite David Dineen
    Report
    Mar 30th 2017, 7:52 PM

    The link for socilios Ireland goes to a physiotherapy website

    4
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds